Hello,
we are building a semi-detached house with around 150 sqm (1,615 sq ft) of living space and a 200 sqm (2,153 sq ft) garden. The contract will be signed next week, and construction will start in late autumn. We have chosen the “technical completion” stage and will do some of the work ourselves: flooring, tiling, sanitary fixtures, attic finishing, interior doors, landscaping, and painting.
We have done our homework for the financing and negotiated extensively with the builder, so we now have a good price.
As you know, building a house always takes quite a toll on the budget, so we are now focusing on the details and where we can save costs. What are your experiences? For example, regarding:
And so on…
I’m looking forward to your experiences!
we are building a semi-detached house with around 150 sqm (1,615 sq ft) of living space and a 200 sqm (2,153 sq ft) garden. The contract will be signed next week, and construction will start in late autumn. We have chosen the “technical completion” stage and will do some of the work ourselves: flooring, tiling, sanitary fixtures, attic finishing, interior doors, landscaping, and painting.
We have done our homework for the financing and negotiated extensively with the builder, so we now have a good price.
As you know, building a house always takes quite a toll on the budget, so we are now focusing on the details and where we can save costs. What are your experiences? For example, regarding:
- Where to get sanitary fixtures cheaply? Also, are branded products really worth it?
- Likewise, kitchen appliances – is there a good way to find display models?
- How have you managed to do landscaping cost-effectively?
- Where and how to buy doors at a low price?
And so on…
I’m looking forward to your experiences!
Save four hundred euros just on the screed! – here’s how: https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/estrich-mit-goldsand.14838/ :-)
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https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
I would doubt that the quality is the same between Keramag and this other brand.
From my experience with another manufacturer, even different product lines can vary in material quality. An engineer I know, who worked for one of the major companies (not Keramag!), explained this to me. The premium lines are, of course, all consistent, but the mid-range and “budget” lines use lower-grade (not necessarily bad, but not the same standard as the premium products) raw materials—and the mid-range quality differs somewhat from the budget series. There was also something about thicknesses, but I didn’t remember all the details. The point is, just because something is made by manufacturer XY doesn’t mean it is XY quality. Different product lines under the same brand can have different levels of quality, which might not be apparent to the end consumer right away—maybe after years, or maybe not. And no, this wasn’t about the coating, which is an additional factor (or not).
It’s like an ALNO kitchen not being just an ALNO kitchen. Just as an example. There are many different types of fronts. The basic quality is probably comparable, but a printed foil is not the same as real glass. You can have hinged doors, drawers, or motorized, automatic drawers. All ALNO. You can install an oven from 1995 or a modern combination steam/microwave/oven appliance with self-cleaning. Everything is possible within an ALNO kitchen.
If you want, there’s also nothing wrong with choosing, for example, an Allia product. But expecting something comparable to a Keramag product is more wishful thinking. And that’s fine. Also, in public offices, schools, or daycare centers, I have never come across high-end toilets—just to point that out. But again, there’s no need for that.
From my experience with another manufacturer, even different product lines can vary in material quality. An engineer I know, who worked for one of the major companies (not Keramag!), explained this to me. The premium lines are, of course, all consistent, but the mid-range and “budget” lines use lower-grade (not necessarily bad, but not the same standard as the premium products) raw materials—and the mid-range quality differs somewhat from the budget series. There was also something about thicknesses, but I didn’t remember all the details. The point is, just because something is made by manufacturer XY doesn’t mean it is XY quality. Different product lines under the same brand can have different levels of quality, which might not be apparent to the end consumer right away—maybe after years, or maybe not. And no, this wasn’t about the coating, which is an additional factor (or not).
It’s like an ALNO kitchen not being just an ALNO kitchen. Just as an example. There are many different types of fronts. The basic quality is probably comparable, but a printed foil is not the same as real glass. You can have hinged doors, drawers, or motorized, automatic drawers. All ALNO. You can install an oven from 1995 or a modern combination steam/microwave/oven appliance with self-cleaning. Everything is possible within an ALNO kitchen.
If you want, there’s also nothing wrong with choosing, for example, an Allia product. But expecting something comparable to a Keramag product is more wishful thinking. And that’s fine. Also, in public offices, schools, or daycare centers, I have never come across high-end toilets—just to point that out. But again, there’s no need for that.
I agree that it rarely makes sense to always choose the cheapest of the cheapest and to cut corners everywhere when building a house. But I find it surprising to argue about quality when it comes to sanitary ceramics – who has ever had a sink or a toilet bowl break? Here, design is the key factor, isn’t it?
Quality in ceramics means water simply flows off and beads naturally, preventing any dirt buildup. Poor quality ceramics are those cheap items that become slightly rough over time, causing dirt to stick more easily. In my opinion, this happens with all budget lines from various manufacturers (the basic approved quality standard products used in rental apartments). However, these often cost just a fraction of proper ceramic products. I’m not saying you shouldn’t use them, as you can save a significant percentage of money that way.
11ant schrieb:
Oh, is "Grandma’s little house" still going to be demolished after all? Yes, that is still the plan. Do I detect a hint of sarcasm there, and where does it come from?
Grym schrieb:
Investing hundreds of thousands of euros and then trying to save 100 euros here on an electrical appliance and 20 euros there on the fittings. That surely pays off. This is representative of some comments along those lines. I probably wasn’t clear enough:
It’s not about saving a few euros here and there by choosing lower quality. It goes without saying that the house and its features should be of good quality and that we want to enjoy them for 10, 20… years!
What I’m interested in is where you have managed to save money through smart purchasing, good negotiation, or clever planning.
For example, you can buy a Miele oven for €3000 (approx. $3200) from a specialist retailer or, if lucky, get it for half the price as a display model. Similarly, you might be persuaded to buy the latest parquet flooring at an expo at the full retail price, or negotiate with your general contractor to use their wholesale purchasing conditions as part of the house deal… That’s the kind of thing I’m talking about.
Let’s be honest, you have the full range of online stores at your disposal. Price comparison made easy.
And I seriously doubt that the general contractor (GC) can offer a good price for parquet flooring. Or, for that matter, why would they let you benefit from their terms?
For most matters, 30 to 90 minutes of research (if you know what you want) is enough to find a price.
And I seriously doubt that the general contractor (GC) can offer a good price for parquet flooring. Or, for that matter, why would they let you benefit from their terms?
For most matters, 30 to 90 minutes of research (if you know what you want) is enough to find a price.
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